Hengsheng sat cross-legged in the simulator, staring intently at the hexagonal stone before him. Made from refined spirit stone, it was a foundational material used by Runic Engravers to craft rune stones capable of holding Qi intricate engravings. Today’s practice involved attempting to engrave his first rune stone using techniques he had studied from the introduced Professions book in the Lan Clan library.
With a deep breath, Hengsheng steadied his spiritual Qi and began the engraving process. The glowing threads of Qi followed his mental commands, tracing the delicate rune patterns onto the stone’s surface. It seemed to be going well—until it wasn’t. The glowing threads suddenly flickered, destabilized, and dissipated, leaving the stone unmarked. Another failure.
Frustrated but reflective, Hengsheng examined the reasons for his repeated failures. It wasn’t a lack of talent; his control over spiritual Qi was nearly flawless. No, the problem lay elsewhere. His mental power—his ability to sustain focus and precision throughout the engraving process—was simply too weak.
“This is the same problem again,” Hengsheng muttered. His mind wasn’t strong enough to keep up with the demands of professions like Runic Engraving. It wasn’t just a minor setback, it was a glaring weakness that had hindered him repeatedly, even in other areas of his cultivation journey. This practice session only confirmed what he already knew even though his mind would get stronger by breakthrough into the higher realms he did not want to be that passive he needed to seriously train his mind.
Hengsheng leaned back, exhaling deeply. Training the mind was as straightforward as strengthening the body or refining Qi. In this world, techniques to enhance mental power existed, but such knowledge was far from accessible. The library’s first floor held no resources on advanced mental cultivation. Such techniques were tightly guarded secrets, often exclusive to The Profession associations or passed down to disciples by masters.
“If I truly want to learn these techniques, formally,” Hengsheng thought, “I’ll either need to join a professional association and pay an exorbitant amount of spirit stones or catch the attention of a master by showcasing my potential.”
Both paths were feasible, but Hengsheng knew his time was limited. The Metal Flow Plain Gathering was fast approaching, and his mission loomed large over his thoughts. “I can’t make this my main focus now,” he decided. “Strengthening my body, Qi, and techniques comes first. I’ll revisit this once Lan Ju is back.”
Opening his eyes, Hengsheng was greeted by the sight of Yunsu perched near him, Her small body leaning forward as she sniffed curiously at his face. Her bright eyes gleamed with mischief as she let out a soft, inquisitive "Meow?"
A chuckle escaped his lips as he reached out to stroke her fur. “What a cute little troublemaker you are,” he said, the weight of his earlier frustrations momentarily lifting. Yunsu batted playfully at his hand, her tiny paw brushing his fingers.
Hengsheng smiled to himself. “Alright, Yunsu. Back to work. I’ll figure this out, one step at a time.”
Hengsheng opened his eyes, breaking out of his meditation. It had been seven days since the Lan Clan’s arrival in Golden City. During that time, Hengsheng had barely stepped outside his room, focusing instead on stabilizing his cultivation and honing his techniques within the simulator. The voice outside his door belonged to Lan Ju, who had presumably returned from her exploration of the city.
“Come in,” Hengsheng said, his voice calm yet commanding.
The door opened, and Lan Ju entered, her usual composure faltering slightly when her gaze fell upon the small gray cat lounging on Hengsheng’s lap. Yunsu was batting a spirit stone playfully, her soft fur gleaming under the light.
Noticing the flicker of surprise and what seemed to be a hint of adoration in Lan Ju’s expression, Hengsheng smirked. “This is Yunsu, my contracted beast,” he explained. “You’ll be responsible for her care whenever I’m away.”
Lan Ju nodded, a faint smile breaking her disciplined demeanor. “Understood, young master,” she replied, seemingly pleased with her new task.
“What about the mission I gave you?” Hengsheng asked, his tone turning serious. “Did you find anything?”
Lan Ju straightened, her professional demeanor snapping back into place as she began delivering her findings. She had meticulously explored the city during the past few days, noting its intricate layout and major landmarks. She described how Golden City was divided into distinct districts, each catering to a specific aspect of cultivator life—commercial zones bustling with artifact and elixir vendors, training grounds for sparring and qi refinement, and residential quarters for both locals and visiting sects.
The local market, she had observed, was a hub of activity, filled with stalls offering herbs, spirit stones, and beast materials. Lan Ju had pinpointed the locations of several prominent shops, including a few known for selling high-quality crafting materials, which might interest Hengsheng.
For transportation, she noted that the city had a network of teleportation arrays and sky paths. These were heavily guarded and strictly regulated by the Golden Sword Sect, ensuring only those with proper credentials could use them. Lan Ju had also identified a few alternative routes—less conspicuous but equally efficient—for navigating the city without drawing attention.
Regarding his special mission, she had located the Profession Association, a grand structure where the most skilled alchemists, formation masters, and other professions convened. It was a place where knowledge and techniques were gathered, though access was often restricted to members or those willing to pay a significant price.
Lastly, she mentioned the recent buzz in the city. A newly ascended rank 8 alchemist who can make a Top-quality pill for a saint realm cultivators had been making waves, This figure had become a focal point of discussion among cultivators.
Hengsheng nodded as he listened to the detailed report. Lan Ju’s thoroughness never failed to meet his expectations. Once she finished, he stood up, gently setting Yunsu aside.
“I’ll head into the city myself,” Hengsheng declared, adjusting his robes. “Take care of Yunsu while I’m gone.”
Lan Ju nodded, stepping forward to pick up the small spirit beast. Yunsu looked up at Hengsheng, letting out a soft, protesting “Meow,” her large eyes filled with disappointment.
Hengsheng chuckled and reached out to scratch her behind the ears. “Don’t worry, Yunsu. I’ll be back soon. Stay with Lan Ju and behave.”
Reluctantly, Yunsu allowed herself to be picked up, though she let out a final, mournful “Meow…” as Hengsheng turned to leave. He can't take her with him in the city full of cultivators who have more power than him if someone sees this cuteness and decides to kidnap her he would be helpless.
Walking out of his chamber, Hengsheng encountered his other servants and quickly dismissed them with a simple command. “I’ll be going alone. Stay here and tend to the skyship.”
“Yes, young master,” they responded in unison, bowing deeply.
Hengsheng made his way to the exit of the skyship. The Golden City loomed before him, its grand entrance bustling with activity as cultivators from all walks of life moved in and out. The sight was both invigorating and intimidating.
Hengsheng wasted no time as he stepped through the city gates, heading directly to the nearest teleportation array. His destination was the Profession Association’s main branch, which was located in the central area of Golden City. Walking there was out of the question; the city’s sheer size was daunting, stretching so far that it would take a month to traverse from the northernmost end to the southernmost end even at a cultivator’s pace.
Before long, he reached the teleportation array site, a bustling hub where cultivators of various ranks lined up for transportation. The area was manned by Golden Sword Sect staff clad in their distinctive golden robes. Hengsheng approached one of the attendants and presented his identification plate. “I wish to travel to the central area,” he said firmly.
The staff member inspected his plate carefully, confirming his identity before nodding and gesturing for him to follow. Hengsheng was guided upstairs to a private chamber where a smaller teleportation array awaited. The attendant activated the formation with practiced ease, and the room glowed with intricate patterns of light. “Please step in,” the attendant said politely.
Hengsheng did as instructed, stepping onto the array. A flash of light engulfed him, and when it dissipated, his surroundings had completely changed. He now stood in a much larger teleportation chamber, with an enormous formation etched into the floor. Around him, cultivators were appearing one after another, quickly making their way toward the exit doors on the far side of the room.
Following the flow of people, Hengsheng stepped outside. The scene that greeted him was breathtaking—a bustling central district teeming with life and activity. Majestic buildings towered above, and the air hummed with an overwhelming concentration of spiritual qi.
He turned to face the north, where his target loomed in the distance: the Profession Association’s main branch. The building was a colossal structure, standing at an impressive height of more than 300 meters tall and equally wide. Its grand design and sheer size exuded an aura of authority and prestige, leaving no doubt that it was the heart of the city’s professional community.
Hengsheng’s gaze lingered on the towering structure for a moment before he stepped forward.